Brits on Universal Credit are being slapped with £100 fines because of out of date NHS forms

Mum-of-two Kareena, from Leicestershire, said she'd been given at least 15 fines of up to £100 for her prescriptions since being on Universal Credit, despite showing evidence every month she was able to get them for free.

The 47-year-old told The Sun Online: "Every month I was getting a fine as my prescription delivery service was apparently checking the wrong box - I'm on Universal Credit but there's no box for that.

"I'm having to watch every penny, I couldn't afford the fines. Whoever is designing these forms needs to change them now.

"I was so worried at having to call them up every month, it's not good."

Just one of over a dozen fines Kareena got because of being unable to check the right NHS prescription box

Kareena, who is unable to work due to multiple medical issues and mental health problems, was concerned when she repeatedly got fined, and had to prove she was on Universal Credit every month until she got a medical exemption certificate to show her pharmacy.

"I've still got to pay my bills - £100 isn't something I can afford.

"It didn't matter what box the pharmacy ticked - I would keep getting a fine.

"But then I realised there was no way I needed to pay."

Low-income Brits on Universal Credit are entitled to get free prescriptions, but the NHS form doesn't have a tick box to say the person is on the new benefits system.

Freedom of Information requests earlier this year showed that over one million penalty fines were issued to fraudulent patients in England in 2017 - but 340,000 were legitimate claims.

A new NHS form has been updated for Brits claiming help for their dental costs but not for NHS prescriptions.

Officials say if they aren't sure then Universal Credit claimants should tick the box for Income-based Jobseekers' Allowance.

It's just one of many problems Brits on the new welfare system are facing, as it's being rolled out across the country.

Many say they have been pushed into debt waiting for their benefits, and have experienced a series of bungles.

The tick forms don't have a box for Brits who are on the new welfare system

How to get help with prescriptions on Universal Credit - and not get fined

You qualify if, on the date you claim help with health costs, you receive Universal Credit and either had no earnings or had net earnings of £435 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period

Or if you receive Universal Credit, which includes an element for a child, or you (or your partner) had limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA), and you either had no earnings or net earnings of £935 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period

If you're a couple this applies to your combined net incomes

You should present a copy of your Universal Credit award letter (or show them an online copy) to your GP or pharmacy to prove you can get it

If you have to tick a box and there's nothing about Universal Credit tick the one for income-based Jobseekers' Allowance

If your UC claim is still being assessed or you're waiting for a decision about your threshold earnings then you may have to pay - you have to have met the critera in the period before you get the prescription to quality for a refund

If you do pay for a prescription then get a receipt and a refund form WHEN you pay - you can't get one later

'SICKENING'

“We are aware of issues with the current forms. A new prescription form is currently being designed to include a tick box for Universal Credit and will be rolled out in due course.”

Single mum on Universal Credit recounts how she was forced to food banks at Christmas

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